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Traditional Stone-Built Barn Renovation

Traditional Stone-Built Barn Renovation

Part of a small farm and vineyard on the south facing slopes of the Covas valley. The barn is on 2 levels with living quarters upstairs and bathroom and utility area on the lower level accessed by an internal staircase. The barn has private off road parking and gardens and boasts several sunny and shaded areas for relaxing or dining including a secluded pool area. The property is close to the historic Costa Verde towns of Caminha, Vila Nova de Cerveira and the walled border town of Valença.

Overview

Part of a small farm and vineyard on the south facing slopes of the Covas valley. The barn is on 2 levels with living quarters upstairs and bathroom and utility area on the lower level accessed by an internal staircase. The barn has private off road parking and gardens and boasts several sunny and shaded areas for relaxing or dining including a secluded pool area. The property is close to the historic Costa Verde towns of Caminha, Vila Nova de Cerveira and the walled border town of Valença.

About Sian Devonald

We (Siân and Steve) have lived in Northern Portugal for over fifteen years and have owned Casa Anno 1869 since 1998. After several years of renovation and radical gardening we now share the property with our dog, cats, chickens, bees and a small vineyard recently planted with traditional vinho verde grapes. We share a professional and hands - on interest in local foods, wines, traditions, customs and crafts and we hope that our enthusiasm and experience will help to enrich your holidays here. We would be more than pleased to trade information over a glass of wine or beer.

Sian Devonald purchased this barn in 1998

Why Sian Devonald chose Vila Nova de Cerveira

We moved to Portugal in 1990 and lived for several years in Porto where Steve worked in the port wine sector (Cockburns) We were lucky enough to have friends that lived in the Minho and spent many happy weekends with them and exploring the area. We fell in love with Covas and when the opportunity came up we bought Casa Anno - then in need of much renovation - in 1998. We were attracted by the timelessness of the village, the granite and grapes, the patchwork of small properties and the near, middle and distant vistas. Workaday life in the village had and still retains a consistently casual but resilient pace which is all the more valued at the present time.

Map

Nearest Airport

100
Kilometres

PORTO OR VIGO

Nearest Barpub

750
Metres

FLOR DA FONTELA

Nearest Golf

30
Kilometres

PONTE DA LIMA

Nearest Motorway

250
Metres

EN 302

Nearest Restaurant

750
Metres

FLOR DA FONTELA

Nearest Beach

15
Kilometres

MOLEDO

Car: necessary

Special interest holidays:

In the local area there are courses run by English speaking artists and potters - further details on request.

Coast/Beach:

The beaches of the Costa Verde are some 25 mins away by car. These sandy (seldom crowded) beaches are popular with surfers and most have surf schools, cafés and lifeguards. The Minho River estuary beaches are another relaxing option.

Travel:

A hire car is essential to fully enjoy this diverse region. Porto airport is 1 and 1/2 hours drive with the alternatives of Vigo (1 hour) and Santiago de Compostela at (2 hours).

Distances:

Covas is situated approx. 25 mins from the towns of Vila Nova de Cerveira and Caminha. The historic cities of Braga, Guimarães and Viana do Castelo are approximately a 1 hour drive away. Geres National Park is a similar distance. Porto is worth a visit by train, coach or car. Across the nearby Minho River the Spanish autonomous region of Galicia has much to recommend it including fantastic seafood and tapas and the historic city of Santiago de Compostela.

Further Details:

The village has local shops where it is possible to buy the basic necessities. There are 3 local family owned restaurants which serve good quality, traditional food at very reasonable prices and offer the opportunity to experience local colour. These all have outside eating areas.The closest of these restaurants is 10 mins walk from the property. There is a cashpoint facilty in the village. Horseriding, canoeing and waterskiing can all be arranged in the local area. We have his and her mountain bikes available for a small daily charge (8 Euro/day/bike including protective headwear) for those keen to explore the immediate locality. Please type our blog address (below) into the address bar of your search engine for more information.

Amenities

Accommodation and facilities for this holiday barn rental in Covas, Portugal

Property Type:

barn

Meals:

Guests provide their own meals

House Rules:

Check-in: 4:00 PM
/
Check-out: 11:00 AM

Max. occupancy: 2

pets not allowed

non smoking only

Location Type:

Mountain

Rural

Village

Theme:

Away From It All

Romantic

General:

Ceiling Fans

Hair Dryer

Internet

Iron & Board

Linens Provided

Living Room ...

Parking

Towels Provided

Washing Machine

Wood Stove

Kitchen:

Dishes & Utensils

Kitchen ...

Microwave

Oven ...

Pantry Items

Refrigerator

Stove ...

Dining:

Dining ...

Dining Area

seating for 4 people

Bathrooms:

1Bathroom

Bathroom 1 -
toilet
,
bath with shower

Downstairs bathroom with wc, bath/shower and wash basin in the barn. En-suite bathrooms with wc, showers and wash basins in the twin and double bedrooms of the main house.

Bedrooms:

1 Bedroom, Sleeps 2

Bedroom 1 -
1 large double bed
,
1 cot

Description of sleeping capacity: Sleeps 2 (Studio Apartment) Notes on bedrooms: Studio bedroom with 1 double bed Further en-suite bedrooms - one double and one twin each with independent access are available in the main house if required.

Entertainment:

Books

Satellite / Cable

Television

Outside:

Bicycles ...

Deck / Patio

Golf ...

Lawn / Garden

Outdoor Grill

Veranda / Loggia

Suitability:

wheelchair inaccessible

Pool / Spa:

Private Pool ...

Attractions:

churches

forests

pond

restaurants

waterfalls

winery tours

Leisure Activities:

beachcombing

bird watching

eco tourism

horse riding

outlet shopping

scenic drives

sight seeing

walking

Local Services & Businesses:

ATM/bank

groceries

medical services

Sports & Adventure Activities:

cycling

equestrian events

fishing

fly fishing

freshwater fishing

golf

hiking

mountain biking

surfing

swimming

whitewater rafting

wind-surfing

Notes:

Notes on accommodation: The water heating system is designed so that maximum use is made of solar heating panels. We supply a small welcome pack of local foods, wine and beer upon your arrival. Although designed for self catering we can provide evening meals, picnic lunches etc. upon request. We now have free wireless internet access (unsecured). Smoking is only permitted in outside areas. Unfortunately we cannot accept pets as we have our own dog and cat. Outside: The property has its own adjoining mature, private garden and a south facing gazebo with table and chairs, a sun terrace with loungers, deck chairs and barbecue. The barn is set in over an acre of vineyard and gardens. As well as vines the grounds are dotted with a variety trees - including walnut, fig, chestnut, oak and olive. A handful of chickens live in a fenced off area and bee hives produce honey. Utility Room: Automatic washing machine, ironing facilities and storage for clothing. Cleaning / Towels / Linen / Maid service: Towels included and changed twice weekly - this does not include beach towels which are not supplied. Bed linen is provided and changed once per week. Other: Adjoined to the barn is a covered dining area which adds considerably to the living space. Guests find this popular space ideal for al fresco dining and relaxing. Other private areas include a sun patio and a garden with gazebo ideal for a sundowner.

Nothing short of idyllic

We have just arrived home after what was one of the most relaxing and enjoyable holidays we have ever experienced.

Casa Anno 1869 is a wonderful characterful and well appointed property set in the beautiful Covas valley amidst stunning local scenery.

The barn itself is situated in a beautiful and fragrant garden which is a treat for the senses -in June we were lucky to dine, read and paint while enjoying the delicious fragrances of Roses, Agapanthus, Lavender, Jasmine and fresh lemons! The covered dining area is a lovely cool retreat and adds hugely to the living area- we ate lunch and barbecued there every day and then adopted the seats under the pretty gazebo in the garden for our sunset drinks while taking in the wonderful views. A few feet away a vineyard leads to the secluded and gorgeous natural style pool complete with jetty and beach which Steve took such great care to maintain so perfectly for us during our stay.

When we could drag ourselves away from the barn we enjoyed exploring the very local rock pools which are crystal clear and wonderful for a picnic and afternoon swim while the rocks appear to sparkle like gold in the sunshine around you. The smell of the Eucalyptus trees is amazing!

We also enjoyed exploring the local villages and a trip to a couple of the local beaches.

We spent our final 24 hours in Porto- a vibrant and friendly city with a real bohemian vibe about it- we liked it very much.

So thank you Sian and Steve for your hospitality and for introducing us to this very beautiful part of the world, one which we look forward to returning to next year and for a little longer.

Sarah and Nick Hancock, Warwickshire, UK.

Review Submitted: Jun 20, 2017

Date of Stay: Jun 2017

Source: Owners Direct, from HomeAway

Owner's Response: Hi Sarah and Nick,
Thank you so much for your generous comments. We are so pleased that you enjoyed your stay with us and that you truly appreciate the beauty of Northern Portugal. We look forward to seeing you again.
Kind regards and enjoy the rest of the summer,
Sian and Steve

Lovely relaxing place

We came here for our honeymoon and had a lovely time, a very friendly and welcoming greeting. The accommodation was rustic yet stylish and the pool was lovely, we found loads of places to go and explore, we will be going again !!

Review Submitted: Jan 10, 2017

Date of Stay: Jul 2016

Source: Owners Direct, from HomeAway

Owner's Response: Thank you so much for your lovely comments we are so pleased you choose North Portugal for your honeymoon. We hope to see you over here again soon

Relaxing- in great location

What a wonderful two week stay we had! Casa Anno is the ideal place to explore this beautiful and relatively unspoilt area of Northern Portugal .The barn is very comfortable and well equipped -With the lovely terraces and swimming pool, it’s the perfect place to relax and unwind. Sian and Steve were excellent hosts and were so helpful.

Peaceful, relaxing and welcoming.

We had a fabulous time in this lovely country cottage. Sian & Steve were the perfect hosts - very unobtrusive but always on hand to answer questions and give advice when needed. The pool area is gorgeous and we loved sitting out in the covered area for all our meals. We thoroughly enjoyed exploring the local countryside and trying out lots of places to eat! This part of Portugal is a real hidden gem, and we would love to return one day!

Review Submitted: Aug 11, 2015

Date of Stay: Jul 2015

Source: Owners Direct, from HomeAway

Owner's Response: We are so pleased you enjoyed your stay here and thank you for your kind comments. It is special and this area is indeed one of Portugal's hidden gems. We hope you have an enjoyable rest of the year and we will hopefully see you again in the future.
Kind regards
Siân and Steve

Highly Recommended: Beautiful Garden Stay

A beautiful location, quiet & peaceful in the lovely Covas Valley, Minho. A converted barn in a beautiful garden with swimming pool. Lots to do & see if you can drag yourself away from the property. Sian & Steve very welcoming hosts. We enjoyed a perfect stay.

Review Submitted: Jun 23, 2015

Date of Stay: May 2015

Source: Owners Direct, from HomeAway

Owner's Response: Hi and thank you so much for your kind review. We are pleased that you enjoyed your stay and we hope you enjoy the rest of your adventure in Europe.
Kind regards
Siân and Steve

Excellent Location

We had a wonderful week. Temperatures in the 30's! Hill walking, trip up into Spain and back down the coast. A myriad of things to do. The cottage has everything you need, and the owners were very friendly and helpful.

Review Submitted: Mar 25, 2015

Date of Stay: Jun 2014

Source: Owners Direct, from HomeAway

Owner's Response: Thanks for your review. You have summed up why so many people like it here in Northern Portugal.

Rental Rates for this holiday barn in Covas, Portugal

Additional information about rental rates

Fees

No additional mandatory fees

Booking Notes:
Booking requests can be made by e-mail or phone and we accept UK Pounds or Euro. We will supply banking details at the time of booking. We require a 20% non-refundable deposit upon booking and the balance 1 month before arrival.
We advise our guests to take out appropriate travel, sickness and injury insurance.

Changeover Day:
Changeover day is flexible. We ask guests to vacate by 10am on changeover days. The barn is available from 3pm on arrival days.